Convertible reclining chair



, Dec. 25, 1956 J. M. VALLONE CONVERTIBLE RECLINING CHAIR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 8, 1955 ATTORNEY.

Dec. 25, 1956 M, VALLQNE 2,775,286

CONVERTIBLE RECLINING CHAIR Filed Aug. 8, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 G i x JNVENTOR.

Jose M Vajjon xis vm Dec. 25, 1956 J. M. VALLONE CONVERTIBLE RECLINING CHAIR Filed Aug. 8, 1955.

4 Sheets-Sheet -3 ATTORNEY.

Dec. 25, 1956 J. M. VALLONE CONVERTIBLE RECLINING CHAIR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 8, .1955

Jose 12M. Vajlon a;

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent Oifice 2,775,286 Patented Dec. 25, 1956 CONVERTIBLE RECLINING CHAIR Joseph M. Vallone, Hamburg, N. Y. Application August 8, 1955, Serial No. 526,835

6 Claims. (Cl. 155-106) This invention relates to an article of convertible furniture of the type known as a reclining chair. This type is characterized by a back element, a seat element, and aleg supporting element, all in association with a floor engaging supporting frame and in actuating mechanism responsive to pressure appropriately exercised by the occupant whereby the elements are suitably moved relatively to one another in conversion between a chair phase and a reclining phase. In the chair phase the back element has a position which, for convenience, may be called vertical although, strictly speaking, for the purpose of comfort it is inclined slightly outwardly from the vertical; the seat element has a position which, for convenience, may be called horizontal although, strictly speaking, it has for the like purpose a suitable downward inclination toward the back element; and the leg supporting element has a substantially vertical position below the forward end of the seat element. In the re clining phase the several elements are in positions of extension. In this phase the back element has a. lower position in which it projects rearward from the seat element; for a comfortable reclining posture the angle of the seat element is suitably altered, that is to say the downward inclination is suitably increased; and the leg economy inthe manufacture and assembly of the parts which constitute the article; to provide for optimum ease and facility in the conversion of the article from either phase to the other; to provide a ireclining chair which islight in weight and therefore readily movable from one position to another; and to enable the occupant in the conversion of the article to the reclining phase readily to determine and effect varying degrees of rearward extension of the back element, corresponding degrees of forward extension of the leg supporting element, and corresponding degrees of the downward inclination of the seat element, in other words to effect determinatively less than full extension of the back element, seat element and leg supporting element if so desired.

With the above objects in view the invention is characterized, generally speaking, by a main frame which carries the seat element, i. e. the seat cushion supporting frame, and the actuating mechanism, the main frame in conversionfulcruming about the lower ends of a rearward pair of supporting legs, and by the actuating mechanism which includes longitudinal motion transmitting links connected by means of extensions to the back element and the leg supporting element respectively, these last two elements being without direct connection to the main frame, and also includes a toggle mechanism op erated by one of the motion transmission links for raising or. lowering the main frame, thereby to change the positionof the seat element to accord with the particular phase in which the article is to be used. The invention so characterizedmay be made ina number of forms which differ from one another merely in certain structural details of the actuating mechanism, a form which is now considered is preferred and two alternative or modified forms being herein shown and described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the article in the chair phase, the back, seat and leg supporting elements being shown in broken lines in the positions of full extension which they occupy when the article is converted to the reclining phase. As shown in this figure the article may be of any of the specific constructions shown respectively in Figures 2, 5 and 7.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section showing in full lines the positions of the parts in the chair phase and in broken lines their positions in the reclining phase, this figure showing a construction which as now considered is preferred.

Figure 3 is a vertical partial transverse section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the ar rows.

Figure 4 is a partial rear elevation.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 and showing an alternative construction.

Figure 6 is a detail horizontal section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 2 and showing a second alternative construction.

Figure 8 is a vertical partial transverse section on the line 8-45 of Figure 7 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4:

The main frame is indicated generally at 1 and is preferably made of wood. The main frame comprises side walls 2 and transverse front and rear connecting boards 3 and 4.

The main frame 1 carries the seat element 5 which is preferably of wood and in the form of a rectangular frame having side members 6 and front and rear cross members '7 and 8. The upper edge faces of the side walls 2 are inclined downward from front to rear at an angle which conforms to the predetermined angular inclination of the seat element 5 in the chair phase, the side members 6 resting in attached relation upon the upper edge faces of the side walls 2.

The back element 9 is preferably made of wood and consists of side members 10 and transverse connecting boards, the lower board 11 being the only one which re quires illustration.

The leg supporting element is preferably made of wood and consists of atransverse board 12 which in the chair phase is positioned in front of, and in substantially parallel relation to, the front board 3 of the main frame.

The seat element 5, the back element 9 and the leg supporting element 12 carry suitably upholstered cushions 5a, 9a and 12a which are indicated in broken lines.

The article includes front and rear legs 13 and 14 arranged in pairs below the seat element. The legs 13 exercise their supporting function in co-operation with the actuating mechanism to be later described. The

legs 14 exercise their supporting function by reason of their rigid attachment to the frame 1. The legs 14 are preferably of tubular form and at their lower ends are connected by ball swivels 15 or other appropriate parts to floor engaging blocks 16. The legs 14 have forward and rearward swinging movements about the pivots 15 with resultant upward and downward swinging movements of the main frame and seat element. In the conversion of the article from either phase to the other the legs 13 have a negligible tilting movement in the fore and aft direction as will be later explained in detail. At the rear of the article a flexible piece 17 of textile fabric or other suitable material (shown in Figure 2 and for clearness of illustration omitted from Figure 4) extends between and is connected to the board 4 and the side members of the back element 9, the piece 17 extending throughout the length of the side members 10 and serving to conceal the various mechanical elements positioned under the seat element and between the side walls 2 of the main frame.

The front legs 13 are unattached to the frame 1. The rear legs 14 are rigidly attached to the side walls 2 by screws 18. The legs 13 and 14 and the elements 5, 9 and 12 are operatively connected to the actuating mechanism by which conversion from either phase to the other is effected.

For the purpose of effective balance the actuating mechanism is provided in duplicate, the mechanisms being positioned symmetrically with relation to the central longitudinal vertical plane of the article and each mechanism being located under the seat frame and adjacent a corresponding side wall 2. Since the two mechanisms are of identical construction it is suflicient to illustrate and describe only one of them.

The actuating mechanism includes a lever 19, preferably of angle-iron cross section, which in the chair phase has a substantially vertical position and is pivoted at 20 to the rear portion of the main frame adjacent its upper side, the lever being movable in a longitudinal plane and its pivot 20 preferably being directly connected to a corresponding rear leg 14 adjacent its upper end. The lever 19 has an alining part 21 which projects upward beyond the pivot 20 and maybe regarded as an extension. The part 21 serves for the operative connection of the lever to the back element 9, the extension 21 being rigidly secured to the back element as by screws 22 tapped into the side members 10. In conversion to the chair phase the lever 19 actuates the back element 9, that is to say moves it to the position shown in Figure 2; and in conversion to the reclining phase the lever 19 is actuated by the back element 9, that is to say is moved to the position A shown in broken lines by the movement of the back element to position B similarly shown. The lever 19, positioned as shown in Figure 2, projects downward from its pivot 20 to a point slightly above the lower edge of the adjacent frame wall 2 and is operatively connected to the leg supporting element 12 by upper and lower longitudinally arranged and movable motion transmitting links 23 and 24, the link 23 being pivoted to the lower end of the lever 19 and the link 24 being pivoted to the lever 19 at a point approximately midway between the pivot 20 and the pivot of the link 23. A bracket 25, preferably of angle-iron construction, is fixed to the element 12 at its rear side and the links 23 and 24 are pivoted at lower and upper points respectively to the bracket 25. In conversion to the chair phase the links 23 and 24 are actuated by the leg supporting element 12, that is to say are moved in a rearward direction to the positions shown in Figure 2, thereby to move the lever 19 about its pivot 20 with the result of the movement of the back element 9 from its position B to its position shown in Figure 2; and in conversion to the reclining phase the links 23 and 24 are actuated by the lever 19, that is to say are moved forward to positions C and D shown in broken lines in Figure 2, thereby vto cause the movement of the element 12 to the position E shown in broken lines in Figure 2. The leg 13, in its supporting function, is operatively connected to the forward portion of the seat element by a toggle T composed of a lower link 26 and an upper link 27 arranged and movable in a longitudinal plane and pivotally connected at 28. The leg 13 includes as a functional upward extension a vertical bracket 30. The link 26 is pivoted at its lower end to the bracket 30 1nd the link 27 is pivoted at its upper end to a bracket 31 arranged under and secured to the side member 6 of :he element 5, this side member as above explained Jeing connected to the adjacent frame side wall 2. The :oggle is pivotally connected tonne of the motion transmitting links for the twofold purpose of supporting the leg supporting element 12 and of being actuated in extension or retraction by the motion transmitting link, one of the toggle links having an axial or alining extension to which the motion transmitting link is pivotally connected. Preferably the toggle is connected to the upper motion transmitting link 24 in which case the lower toggle link 26 is provided with the axial or alining extension 29 which projects beyond the pivot 28, the motion transmitting link 24 being connected by a pivot 32 to the extension 29. In the chair phase shown in Figure 2 the toggle is at the limit of its retraction and through its link 27 supports the frame 1 at a suitable elevation relatively to the floor. Through its extension 29 and the link 24 it also supports the element 12 in its perpendicularly pendant relation at a suitable elevation relatively to the floor, the element 12 through the bracket 25 in turn supporting the front end of the link 23. In the perpendicularly pendant position of the element 12 as shown in Figure 2 the seat element abuts the back element and thereby prevents its further forward movement with the result of preventing further inward movement of the element 12. In the movement of the back element 9 to the position B the links 23 and 24 are moved forward as above explained and the link 24 by reason of its pivotal connection 32 extends the toggle, the toggle link 26 reacting against the leg 13 and thereby causing the upward movement of the seat element 5 to the elevated position F in which, for the purpose of comfort in the reclining posture, its rearward and downward inclination is greater than its similar inclination in the chair phase. Since the seat element 5 is rigidly connected to the main frame 1 its movement to the position F involves a pivotal movement of the main frame, the pivot being provided by the ball swivels 15 or other pivotal connections at the lower ends of the leg 14. When the links 23 and 24 are moved in the rearward direction consequent to the movement of the leg supporting element 12 from its elevated position B to the position shown in Figure 2 the link 24 operates the toggle in retraction and thereby causes the movement of the seat element 5 and the backelement 9 back to their positions shown in Figure 2. In these positions the then lower side of the cushion 9a abuts the rear side of the cushion 5a. Since the legs 13 are unattached to the frame 1 and provide an abutment against which the toggle T reacts, provision is made for maintaining them in substantially perpendicular relation. For this purpose the legs 13 and 14 are connected by upper and lower tie bars 33 and 34 which are pivoted at 35 to the legs 14 near their lower ends and at 36 to the bracket 30. The tie bars 33 and 34 prevent the substantial displacement of the legs 13 in consequence of the forces applied to them by the action of the toggle T in extension or retraction. The movement of the legs 14 about their pivots 15 involves a very slight fore and aft tilting of the legs 13 which is negligible for all practical purposes and in no way interferes with their supporting function.

Assuming that the article is in the chair phase and that the occupant desires to recline: This is accomplished by exerting pressure with his back against the back element 9. Thereby, in full conversion to the reclining phase, the elements 9, 5 and 12 are moved to their respective positions B, F, and E as shown in Figures 1 and 2. It will be noted that the movement of the back element 9 is a pivotal movement about the pivots 20; the movement of the seat element 5 is a pivotal movement about the pivots 15 of the legs 14 and that the movement of the leg supporting element 12 is a combination of a forward projection and a pivotal movement about the pivotal connection of the link 24 to the bracket 25, the inner end of the leg-supporting element 12, which, at the completion of the conversion, is its rear end being located suitably below and in front of the front end of the seat element 5 as moved to the position F. In conversion from the reclining phase to the chair phasethe parts are moved in reverse, this being accomplished by removal of the pressure of the occupants back against the back element 9 and the exertion of pressure by his legs to the leg supporting element 12. It will. be noted that in the conversion from the chair phase to the reclining phase the occupant may arrest the. conversion movement at any point that he may desire simply by refraining from the application, of pushing pressure with his back against the back element 9. Likewise, assuming that there has been full conversion to the reclining phase the occupant may similarly arrest at any point he may desire the conversion to the chair phase simply by refraining from the application of pushing pressure with his legs against the leg supporting element 12.

. It will be noted that in the chair phase as shown in Figure 2 no gap will be visible between the front side of the cushion 5a and the upper end of the cushion 1211. As an economical measurefor preventing the appearance of such a gap a transverse filler piece 37, preferably of wood, may be attached to the under face of the front cross member 7 of the seat element 5.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6:

This alternative or modified form differs from the form shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 only in respect to the form of the front legs and in the omission of the tie bars 33 and 34 and the substitution for them of functionally equivalent means for preventing substantial tilting of the front legs during the conversion from either phase to the other. In other respects this modified form is structurally the same as the form shown in Figure 2.

In this construction the front legs, here designated as 13a, are, as in the preceding instance, unattached to the frame 1. The legs 13a are preferably tubular in cross section and of curved form, being held in positions in which their curvature is about aradius taken from the pivots at the lower ends of the rear legs 14, such pivots being shown in this instance as the trunnions or mounting pins of rollers 1611 which may be used in substitution for the blocks 16.

Therneans for holding each leg 13a in the positions described and for the prevention of its substantial tilting during the conversion from either phase to the other consists of a slip 38 having a close sliding fit upon the leg..

The clip 38 is provided with a base piece or bracket 39 attached by screws to the adjacent side wall 2. As a matter of preference the clip includes a tubular member 41 conforming in curvature to the leg 13a and extending upward from the bracket 40, the leg 13a, with the parts in the positions which they occupy in the chair phase, extending into the tubular member 41 to a point near its upper end. The clip is preferably additionally secured to the adjacent side wall 2 by a screw 42 which passes through the flattened upper end portion 43 of the member 41.

The conversion of the article from either phase to the other is effected in precisely the same manner as above described in connection with the construction shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8:

This alternative or modified form also differs from the form shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 only in respect to the omission of the tie bars 33 and 34 and the substitution for them of functionally equivalent means for preventing tilting of the front legs during the conversion from either phase to the other. In other respects this modified form is structurally the same as the form shown in Figure 2.

In this construction the legs 14 are in the form of fiat metal strips secured to the side walls 2 and connected by pivot pins 16b to floor engaging blocks 160. The front legs, here designated 13b, like the legs 13 and 13a of the constructions above described, are without attachment to the frame 1. The legs 1312 are rigidly secured in perpendicular depending relation to longitudinally extending bars 44, preferably of angle-iron cross section which at their rear ends are formed with rigid downward extensions 45. The extensions 45 are attached to thefioor blocks 16c by the pivot pins16b, the extensions being positioned between the legs 14 and the adjacent levers 19. Each lower toggle link 26 is pivotally connected to the corresponding bar 44 near its front end. The bars 44 hold the front legs 13b against movement and maintain the constancy of their spacing from the rear legs.

The conversion of the article from either phase to the other is effected in precisely the same manner as above described in connection with the construction shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

It will be noted from the foregoing description that the three forms disclosed have in common the provision of means for maintaining the stability of the front legs (as unattached to the supporting frame) during the conversion of the article from either phase to the other; and that in each instance this means is anchored to an appropriate part of the chair and is operatively connected to the corresponding front leg. Thus in the form shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 the means comprises the tie bars 33 and 34 which are anchored to a corresponding leg 14 and are operatively related by connecting pivots to a corresponding leg 13; in the form shown in Figure 5 the means comprises the clip 38 which is anchored by the screws 40 and 42 tothe adjacent side wall 2 of the main frame and is in operative relation to the leg 13a by its close slidable fit.

upon the leg; and in the form shown in Figures 7 and 8 the means comprises the bar 44 with its rigid extension 45 which is anchored by the pivot 16b to the corresponding floor block and is in operative relation to the corresponding leg 13b by its rigid attachment to the upper end of the leg; The three forms disclosed also have in common the functional connection of the lower link 26 of the toggle T to a corresponding front leg, this connectionin the form shown in Figure 2 being to the functional extension 30 of the front leg 13, in the form shown in Figure 5 being directly to the front leg 13a and in the form shown in Figure 7 being to the bar 44 which is rigidly connected to the front leg 13b. The three forms disclosed also have in common the functional pivotal connection of the lever 19 to the rear portion of the main frame adjacent its upper side, this connection by preference being made directly to the legs 14 (which are rigidly attached to the main frame) adjacent their upper ends. The three forms disclosed also have in common the functional pivotal connection of the upper toggle link 27 to the main frame, this connection by preference being made by means of the bracket 31 directly connected to a corresponding side member 6 of the seat element which, as a matter of preference and as previously pointed out, is rigidly secured to the corresponding side wall 2 of the main frame.

I claim:

1. A convertible reclining chair having chair and reclining phases and comprising, in combination: a main frame having vertical side walls and transverse connections between them; a rectangular seat element extending horizontally between the side walls; and in the reclining phase elevated in a position of rearward and downward inclination; a back element at the rear of the seat element and in the chair phase having a position in which it projects vertically upward from the seat element and in the reclining phase having a position in which it projects rearward and upward from the seat element; a leg supporting element adjacent the front portion of the seat element and in the chair phase having a perpendicular position below the front portion of the seat element and in the reclining phase having a position in which it projects horizontally forward; supporting legs arranged under the seat element and comprising a front pair in unattached relation to the main frame and a rear pair rigidly attached to the side walls of the main frame; the legs of the rear pair fulcruming during conversion from either phase to the other about their lower ends in forward or rearward swinging movements; actuating mechanism arranged under the seat element, the actuating mechanism being provided 'in duplicate and in each instance arranged adjacent a side wall of the main frame and operable by pressure applied either to the back element or to the leg supporting element for effecting the conversion of the chair from one phase to the other, the pressure applied to the back element efiecting the conversion from the chair phase to the re clining phase and the pressure applied to the leg supporting element effecting the conversion from the reclining phase to the chair phase, each actuating mechanism comprising a lever whichin the chair phase is positioned vertically and extends from a point adjacent the lower edges of the side walls, the lever being connected functionally to the main frame by a pivot located adjacent the upper end of a corresponding rear leg and about which it is movable in a longitudinal plane, the lever having an alining extension which projects upward beyond its pivot and is rigidly connected to the back element, lower and upper motion transmitting links positioned longitudinally and at their rear ends pivotally connected to the lever at spaced points, both of which are below the pivotal connection between the lever and the main frame and at their forward ends pivotally connected at lower and upper spaced points to the leg supporting element adjacent that portion thereof which is its upper portion in its position in the chair phase, a toggle comprising pivotally connected lower and upper linksarranged and movable in a longitudinal plane, the lower link being pivotally connected functionally to a corresponding front leg and the upper link being pivotally connected functionally to the main frame, one of the toggle links having an alining extension beyond its pivotal connection to the other toggle link. and one of the motion transmitting links being connected pivotally to the toggle link .extension and effecting the extension of the toggle in the conversionto the reclining phase and its contraction in the conversion to the chair phase; and means for maintaining the stability of the front legs during the conversion of the article from either phase to the other, the means having an anchored connection to an appropriate part of the chair and an operative connection to the corresponding front leg. I

2. A convertible reclining chair as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lower link of the toggle is formed with the alining extension and-the upper motion transmitting link is connected pivotally to the extension.

3. A convertible reclining chair as set forth in claim 1 wherein floor engaging parts are associated with the rear legs and the rear legs at their lower ends are connecte pivotally to the floor engaging parts. i

4. A convertible reclining chair as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for maintaining the stability of the front legs during the conversion of the article from either phase to the other consists of spaced upper and lower tie bars anchored at their rear ends by pivotal connections to a corresponding rear leg and operatively connected at their front ends by pivotal connections to a corresponding front leg.

5. A convertible reclining chair as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for maintaining the stability of the front legs during the conversion of the article from either phase to the other consists of a clip which is anchored to the corresponding side wall by rigid attachment thereto and is operatively associated with the corresponding front leg by surrounding it with a close slidable fit.

6. A convertible reclining chair as set forth in claim 3 wherein the means for maintaining the stability of the front legs during the conversion of the article from either phase to the other consists of a longitudinal bar anchored at its rear end to a corresponding floor engaging part and operatively associated with the corresponding front leg by having its forward end rigidly attached thereto with the leg in a downwardly extending perpendicular position.

References Cited. in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS McKibban Aug. 9, 1955 

